Push button station



June 8, 1954 R. P. BALLOU PUSH BUTTON STATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 4 Q 2 o 4 4 2 2 6 3i Z 2 2 Z 2 J 4 a E w 2 a \2 2 2 INVENTOR. R/charo P Bad/0a BY g cuu ATTORNEY June 8, 1954 R. P. BALLOU 2,680,794

PUSH BUTTON STATION Filed Aug. 5. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /O 44 INVENTOR.

R/chard/ Bod/0a BY FM 426% QTTORNEY Patented June 8, 1954 PUSH BUTTON STATION Richard P. Ballou, Hartfo Federal Electric Prod.

N. J a corporation rd, 001111., assignor to ucts Company, Newark,

ApplicationAugust 5, 1948, Serial No. 42,718

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to push button stations which are used in conjunction with electrically operated apparatus.

A push button station ordinarily comprises, in one enclosure, an assembly of manuallyoperable switches and may include one or more pnsh button switches, for example, a start switch and a stop switch manually operable by push buttons, a rotary selector switch which is usually actuated by a manually operable rotary knob, and one or more pilot lights. However, a push button station may be provided only with push button switches or only with rotary switches or only With pilot lights, or with any combination of such elements. Furthermore, these elements may be mounted in different positions within the enclosure. Also, one or more of the push buttons, especially the stop button, may have mushroom heads, and Various otherdevices, such as interlocks, lock-offs, or key locks may be added. Heretofore, the various elements and modifications usually required that the enclosure be provided with openings of different sizes. For this reason, it was heretofore necessary for the manufacturer either to manufacture the push button stations on order, in accordance with the requirementsspecified in advance with the order, or to keep in stock a very large number, say several hundred, different covers in order .to satisfy the different requirements ofpush button stations equipped with various elements or with different numbers .of elements.

One object of the present invention is to reduce the number of diiferent covers necessary to meet the different requirements of various push button stations. Another object is to provide a station that may be mounted either in a vertical position or in a horizontal position and yet have all markings or functional designations of the elements disposed horizontally for normal reading thereof. Another object is the provision of a mechanical design whereby the same elements can be provided either in a station of the surface type or in a flush station, with minimum adaptation requirements. A further object is to provide a station which eliminates the requirements for name or designationplates for the switches or pilot lights.

A further objectof the present invention is the provision of an improved key lock devic for one or more switchesof a ushbutton station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a push button station in which one or more of the push buttons may be provided with heads 9f .themushro m t pe, h pus utt s of said typ 7 being of improved construction, particularly in respect to their removable securement to the companion stems of the push buttons, whereby to enable said heads to be properly secured to said stems and yet be removable therefrom, externally of the cover of the station, when it is desired to remove said cover for access to the interior of the station enclosure.

Another object is the provision of an interlock for adjacent push button switches of a push button station in order to prevent the simultaneous operation of both switches, the switch casings of the interlock being of such character as to enable the interlock to be mounted in position without the use of fastening devices or other fittings.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of ti invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a push button station embodying the present invention, said station being shown in vertical position, and the functional designations or legends being horizontally disposed for correct reading;

Fig. 2 is an inner plan view of the cover, removed from the frame of the enclosure, showing also the key lock;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 3-3 and l-4, respectively, of Fig. 2, one of the push buttons being shown in dotted lines in Fig, i

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6--5, respectively, of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 7 is a front view, in elevation, of the push button station, showing the same in horizontal position, and showing the functional designations or legends in horizontal positions for the correct reading thereof;

Fig, 8 is a sectional view of a push button switch, on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a selector or rotary switch, on the line |Dli! of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line |l--l l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line iZ-IZ of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 13, the push button being shown locked in retracted position, a part of the head of the push 3 button being cut away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. is a sectional view on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 7;

Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views of releasable holding elements of the push button and rotary switches, respectively;

Fig. 18 is-a front view of a push button station of the flush type;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line l9l9 of Fig. 18, the switches being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 20 is a perspective sectional view on the line 20-49 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a perspective sectional view on the line 2 l-2l of Fig. 19; and

Fig. 22 is an end view of the operating member of the selector switch, the operating knob being removed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a push button station Hi. The enclosure I2 is in the form of a frame having similar end walls 14 and i6 and a rear wall 18 of the same width as said end walls. As here shown, the cover 26 of the enclosure is U-shaped in cross section having the front part 22 and the side parts 24. The end walls It and iii of the frame l2 are provided with screw threaded brackets 26, and the front part 22 of the cover is provided with apertures 28 to receive screws which engage the brackets 25, respectively, for securing the cover 20 to the frame l2. Said frame and its cover are preferably formed of sheet metal, and knockouts 38 may be provided in each of the end walls 12 and i5 and, if desired, in the rear or side wall 18, for wiring the elements of the push button station to the electrical devices which are operable under the control of the switches of the station.

Pursuant to one of the objects of the present invention all of the openings in cover 26 are of the same size. More particularly, as here shown, the push button station is provided with a plurality of push button switches, indicated at 32, 34, 36, 38 and so, with a rotary or selector switch, the rotary knob of which is indicated at 42, and with a translucent pilot light cover indicated at M. The pilot light (not shown) may be mounted in any suitable way on wall it. The openings in cover 20 which, as stated, are of the same size are indicated by the numerals 92a, 34a, 36a,

38a, 49a, 42a and Ma, respectively. With the exception of opening fiZa, a ring is secured in each of the cover openings, said rings being indicated at 32b, 34b, 35b, 38b, 40b and 442). Each ring has a snug fit in the companion cover opening and has its inner end bent over at the inner side of cover 20 as indicated at 46 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6) the peripheral shoulder 41 of each ring abutting the outer surface of the cover. As shown in Fig. 15, ring Mb for the pilot light cover is is internally threaded for holding said pilot cover in position. Rings 32b, 3%, 36b, 33b and dill) constitute guard and guide rings for the companion push buttons, respectively, and project forwardly of the front 22 of the station cover. Ordinarily, with the exception of the stop button ring 321), these rings are of such axial extent that the outer ends of said rings are substantially flush with the outer ends of the push buttons. However, in the case of the stop button 32, the companion ring 32b is shorter than the other rings in order that the stop button may project beyond the outer end of the ring so that the stop button is more easily accessible for operation. It will be understood, that as usual, the

push buttons are movable axially of the companion openings through which they project and, of course, axially of the companion rings which are secured in said openings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the rotary knob 42 of the selector switch is disposed directly in the cover opening 42a and has a peripheral flange 48 which overlaps the adjacent inner surface of the cover part 22 for preventing removal of said knob through cover opening 42a. It will be observed that the push buttons and the rotary knob 42 are each provided with an appropriate legend or functional designation engraved on or otherwise applied thereto. As illustrated by Figs. 1 and 7, these legends are horizontally disposed, for correct reading, both when the station is mounted vertically, that is when the row of cover openings extends vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, and also when said station is mounted horizontally, that is when the row of said openings extends horizontally, as shown in Fig. '7. The manner in which this desirable result is accomplished, pursuant to one of the objects of the present invention, will now be described. Although the push button 32 is shown as of the mushroom type, it will be understood that said push button may be of the same type as the other push buttons. Referring first to the push button switches which are operable by axial movement of their push buttons, respectively, each of said switches may be of the construction illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 12 and 19. Each push button switch comprises an insulation casing 59 which is provided with a pair of stationary contacts 52, 52a and another pair of stationary contacts 54, 54a. A movable bridging contact 56 is movable longitudinally between said pairs of contacts for engagement therewith or disengagement therefrom, according to the requirements of the circuit controlled by the particular switch. As shown in Fig. 8, bridging contact 55 is normally in engagement with contacts 52, 52 a. Said bridging contact is connected by a shouldered screw pin 58 to the stem of the push button. A spring 62 normally holds contact 55 in engagement with contacts 52, 52a and also holds the companion push button in its forward or projected position.

Although the push button may be turned about its axis, for the purpose which will be presently described, contact member 55 is not turned but is held in alignment with the stationary contacts, by the adjacent inner surface portions of the switch casing 50 as will be readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 12. In this connection it will be observed that contact member 56 has a central opening 64 through which pin 58 projects and that a spring 58 holds said contact member against the head of said pin, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the stem Ell is non-circular and projects through a similarly shaped opening 58 of a retaining disk 19. This disk is provided with a pair of ribs 12 and a pair of ribs 74 which are at right angles to each other and which engage the casing 50 in grooves It and 18, the last mentioned grooves being at right angles to grooves 15. Spring 62 which holds the push button in its outwardly projected position bears at one end thereof against the confronting surface of retaining member 76 and bears at its other end against the bottom of an inner circumferential recess provided in the push button as indicated at 80.

' When it is desired to adjust the push button in order that itslegend which is markedthereon may behorizontally positioned, as hereinbefore referred to, for correct reading thereof, said push button is turned about its axis through 90. Duringthis turning movement the rounded ribs I2 and of the disk 73 move out of the grooves I6'and '18 in which they were positioned, and at the end of the 90 turning movement of the push button said ribs again enter said grooves, by reason of the pressure of spring 62 on member '10, for releasably holding the push button in its adjusted position. The stop button 32, which is of the mushroom-type as hereinafter more particularly described, and is not integral with or otherwise immovably fixed to the axially movable stem, is adjusted in the same way as the other push buttons as will be readily understood, it beingnoted in this connection that the stem 60a. and the part 601) corres ond to the stem 60 and the push button of the construction illustrated in F As hereinbefore indicated the knob or manually operable part 42 of the rotary selector switch may also be positioned for correct reading in either the vertical or horizontal mounting of the push button station. In this connection it will be noted that the knob 42 carries the legends For, Off and Rev. which of cours mean forward, off, and reverse, respectively. In order to enable the knob 42 to be correctly positioned said knob is provided with a non-circular, preferably square recess 82 (Fig. 10), and the rotary stem 84 by which the selector switch is actuated is provided at its forward end with a non-circular projection 86 which has a removable fit in said recess. Also, as herein shown a removable set screw 88 may be provided for removably securing knob 42 to the switch-actuating stem 84. It will be understood that the selector switch may be of any suitable construction andincludes a plurality of relatively movable contacts (not shown) for making the desired switch connections. However, it is preferred that the casing 90 of the selector switch be of the same size and external configuration as the casing of the several ush button switches, as shown for example in 19. The cross section of stem 84 is non-circular and has a sliding fit in a correspondingly non-circular opening 92 in a releasable retaining member 94 (Figs. 10, 11 and 1'7). Retaining member 34 is provided with a pair of rounded projections at which are engageablein the recesses 98 and grooves which correspond to the grooves 76, and 78 of casing 50.

Referring to Fig. 9 it will be noted that casing 50 of the push button switch is also provided with recesses98 which, however, are not used in the case of the push button switches since the ribs 12 andgM of ,the push button retaining members 10 are longer than recesses 98. On the other hand, the projections 96 of the retaining member 94 of the selector switch can enter recesses 98 as well asgrooves l5 andji8. In this connection it will be understood that the provision of the recesses as well as the grooves in the push button switch'casings 50 and in the selector switch casings tcenable the casings produced by the same moldto be used either as casings of the. push button switches or casings of the selector switches. As in the case of the push button switch, a spring I66 holds the retaining member 95 in position but allows said member to be turned bystern 84. More particularly, as shown in Fig. lfi roneend of "spring ,I (it bears against member 94 andthe other end of said spring bears against the-endwallof-therecess I82 in the enlarged integral cylindrical part H14- of stem 84. As shown-byFigs. 10, 11 and 22, said part I04 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves I06, I08, IIB, I52 and H4, in whicha locking memberof a key-lock hereinafter described is engaged for locking knob 42 in a desired position. Grooves I06, I38 and I lilare used for the 3-position selector switch indicated in Figs. '1 and '7, while grooves H2 and H4 are used for-the 2-position selectorswitch the knob of which is indicated at-42' in Figs. 18 and 19. This feature of the invention will be subsequently more specifically described.

As hereinbeforeindicated, ush button station maybe provided with a-Stop button ofthe mushroom type. Since the head of such button is larger than the opening 32a of cover 20, it is necessary to attach the button to the push button stem a after the cover is placed in position, and this turn requires provision for removably attaching the button to said stem. Also, it'will be understood that it is necessary to detachthis button from the switch-actuating stem in order to effect the removal of cover 20 from frame I2. The construction provided for accomplishing these results is illustrated in Fig. 13. As here shown-the shank I I6 of the button is attached to metal cap II8by a screw 12c and a lock washer I22. For-this-purpose shank I I6 is provided with a recess having-a screw-threaded metal insert I24 therein. Ca II8 has an internally screw threaded flange I26 which engages a complementary screw-threaded portion on the forward end of the head EOb-of stem 69a. A recess I30 is-provided in the end ofhead 60b to receive the head of the fastening screw I29. It will be noted that-the outer peripheral surface of cap H8 is flush with the outer cylindrical surface of head 6% forming a unit which has a movable fit, with proper clearance, in guard ring 322). In the -attachment of thepush button to the switch-actuating stem 60a, when the cover -2Gis in position, the button- 32 and cap H8 are first attached to each other by screw I20 suificiently tight to pre vent free-relative movement of said button and cap but loose enoughto allow the button to be turned. Then the cap H8 having the push button fastened thereto ;is screwed onto the head 60b ofthe stem, and since the screw threads of said cap and head are rather coarse, the edge of the cap abutting the shoulder I32 at the base of the screw-threaded portion of said head 6% provides a definite stop against further turning movement of said cap in the same direction on said head. The push button 32 is then turned until the Stop legend, engraved or otherwise applied thereto, is in the proper horizontal reading position, according to Fig. l or Fig. '7, as may be required, after which the cap and button assembly is unscrewed from the stem head'SBb to permit tightening of the fastening screw I20 to tightly secure the button 32 to said cap in the correct reading adjustment thereon. Finally the ca II8-having the button 32 thus tightly fastened thereto is again screwed onto head 60b, completing the operation of attaching the button to the switch-actuating stem for operation and with the Stop legend in the correct position.

'It will be understood that once the button 32 is thus secured to stem 69a, with the correct adjustment for the horizontal reading position of the legend, the button may be turned in the same manner as the other push buttons in case it is desired tdchange the push button station from a vertical mounting as shown in Fig. 1 to a horizontal mounting as shown in Fig. 7, or vice versa.

The push button station may be provided with a lock-off device as indicated above. This device is shown in Figs. 1, '7, 13 and 14 and will now be described. Said lock-off device comprises the guard ring 321) which in this case is provided with a slot I32 through which the part I34 of a lock-off member I86 is movable with slight clearance. Said lock-off member also has an offset part I38 which has a'sliding fit, with a slight clearance, in a slot I40 which is spaced laterally of slot I32. Said slot I40 is provided in a lug I42 which is integral with a ring I44 secured against the front part 22 of cover 20 by guard ring 3%. It will be understood that when it is desired to lock the push button 32 in its circuit opening position, said push button having been moved inwardly, locking member I36 is moved so as to project its part I34 through opening I32 from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14, in overlying relation to the front surface of cap II8, until the arcuate end I46 of said part I34 engages the shank II6 of the push button. A nib or small projection I48 is provided on part I34 of said locking member so that the latter is not movable by gravity when the push button station is in the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. '7. It will be understood however that a rather slight but positive pull on the locking member I36 is sufiicient to overcome the retaining effect of nib I48 when it is desired to retract the locking member from its looking or projected position shown in Fig. 14 to its retracted or unlocked position shown in Fig. 13.

Referring to Figs. 18 to 20, there is shown a push button station of the flush type. Said station comprises a cover I50 and a frame I52 to which said cover may be removably secured in the usual way as by screws I54. Said cover may be made of sheet metal, as in the case of cover 20 of push button station I described above, but it may be desirable to provide a cover which is cast, for example an aluminum or zinc casting. When the cover is cast it is desirably thicker than the sheet metal cover and the holes in the cover for the switch and other elements are preferably slightly larger than the push buttons which are of the same diameter as those referred to above in the description of push button station I0.

Such larger holes cannot properly accommodate the pilot light cover 44 or the selector switch knob 42' when, in accordance with one or more of the objects of the present invention, said last-mentioned elements are of the same size and construction as those used in a push button station of a specifically different construction, such as that shown in Fig. 1, for example. Accordingly, in order to enable these elements to be used interchangeably either with a sheet metal cover or with a cast metal cover additional elements are provided. In order to mount the pilot light cover in position, an internally screw-threaded ring I56 is fastened to the station cover I50 in any suitable way as by screws I58. In the case of the selector switch, the knob 42' thereof which is of the same size and construction as knob 42, hereinbefore described, is mounted in a flanged ring I60 which is fastened to the front of cover I50 in any suitable way as by screws I62. It will be noted that the flange 48 of knob 42 is mounted between the front flange I64 of ring I60 and the marginal surface of cover I50 around the cover opening I68. The thickness of the cover I50 results in the selector switch knob 42 being and I98.

spaced from the end 86 of the switch-actuating stem whereby the latter cannot be fitted into the recess 82 of said knob in the manner herein described with reference to Fig. 10. This difficulty is overcome in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a removable connecting member I68 shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Said connecting member I68 comprises a part II0 which fits into recess 82 in the knob, and a part II2 which fits on the end portion 86 of the selector switch-actuating stem, as clearly seen in Fig. 20.

A mechanical interlock may be provided between any two adjacent push button switches. An interlock device I74, made according to the present invention is illustrated in the push button station shown by Figs. 18 and 19. It will be noted that the switch casings are provided with grooves I'I6 (Figs. 9, 19 and 21) and that the interlock device I14 includes a flat plate-like part I18 which has a slidable fit in the two confronting grooves I16 of two adjacent switches. A cross member I is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a shouldered pivot member I82 which is secured to part I'I8. As illustrated in'Fig. 19, the opposite end portions of cross member I80 are in the paths of movement of buttons 32 and 34 of the adjacent switches respectively. Cross member I80 allows either push button to be depressed but prevents simultaneous depression of both push buttons. In this connection, it will 'be understood that if only one push button is depressed cross member I80 can move on its pivot I82 and therefore offers no impediment to the movement of one push button at a time, while on the other hand if an attempt is made to depress both push buttons by an amount suflicient to actuate their switches, the lower ends of both push buttons simultaneously engage the opposite ends of said cross member so that the latter cannot be moved out of the path of either of the two push buttons, thus preventing movement of said push buttons to the extent required for the operation of the companion switches respectively. It will be noted that the interlock device I'I4 may be readily placed in position between any two switches and may be easily removed when desired, since the interlock device is mounted and supported in the casing grooves I16 without any auxiliary fastening device or fittings.

As hereinbefore indicated push button stations may be provided with a key look. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, and as will presently appear, the cover 20 of the enclosure of the push button station does not require any modification on account of the provision of the key lock.

As here shown, the key lock comprises a looking frame I 84 which includes the laterally spaced longitudinal bars I86 and I88, the end-connecting member I90 and the cross members I92, I94, I96

The locking frame is mounted for 1ongitudinal movement adjacent the inner side of the front part 22 of the cover 28 by members 200 which as here shown are in the form of rings clamped against the inner side of the cover portion 22 by the bent-over edge portions 46 of certain of the guard rings, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of said frame mounting members '200 is provided at diametrically opposite points with a pair of oppositely offset lugs 202, 204, at one side of member 200 and 206, 208 at its opposite side. Said sets of lugs 202, 204 and 206, 208 form guides for the side bars I86 and I88 of the locking frame and in the longitudinal movement thereof and also hold the locking frame against movement transversely of its own plane, as well as preventing lateral movement of said locking frame. The cross members are each removably secured at their opposite ends to the side bars I83 and 538 in any suitable way as by screws 2 I6 which are received in companion threaded openings provided in said bars. It will be noted that said bars are provided with sets of additional openings, identified by the small circles on said bars, defining additional positions at which the various cross locking-members, such as members I92, I94, I95, I98, may be disposed for locking action. The locking members I 92, I94, and i96 are each provided with an arcuate recess 2I2, and locking member I58 is provided with a similar arcuate recess 2% so that in the neutral position of the locking frame, illustrated in Fi 2, the locking members are clear of the push buttons or other elements to allow free movement thereof when it is desired that they be unlocked, and also to permit the removal of the cover 25. In this connection it will be under stood that when the locking member I84 is moved longitudinally, one or more of the cross looking members are disposed in the path of inward novement of the push buttons, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 with reference to the push button 40. Thus, it will be noted that when for example the locking frame is moved toward the end wall It locking. members I94, I96 are moved to their locking positions under the inner ends of push buttons 38 and 48 respectively and thereby prevent operation of said push buttons, while on the other hand if the locking frame is moved toward the opposite end of the cover or end wall I i of the frame I2, the locking member I532 is positioned under the inner end of the push button and pr vents operation of the latter. It will be readily understood that provision may be made for locking one or more of the push buttons when the frame I85 is moved in one direction to one looking position, and that one or more of the push buttons may be locked when the looking frame is moved. in the opposite direction to its other position. It will be observed that all of the cross locking members, including member I98, are reversible and may be positioned either like member I92 or like member I 95. For eX- ample, when it is desired to lock button 36 by movement of the frame toward end wall I2 of the enclosure, cross member I92 is removed from the position shown Fig. 2, and placed in a position in which it is secured in a pair of the above mentioned additional openings indicated at I53, the arcuate portion N2 of said cross member facing the end wall I E of the enclosure. The cross locking member I98 is especially designed for locking the rotary selector switch in any of its three positions, when it is a 3-pcsition switch as illustrated in Fig. 1, or in either of its two positions when it is a 2-position switch as illustrated in 18. For this purpose member I98 is provided with a projection 255 in the arcuate recess 2H, for releasable engagement with the knob 42, or 42 as the case may be, said locking projection 2H5 being received in any one of the companion locking recesses or grooves I65 to I I4 hereinbefore described. In this connection it will be observed that the locking grooves iii i, I68 and lit are provided for use in conjunction with looking projection 2 I6 in the case or" the 3- position selector switch and that grooves I I2 and H4 are provided for use in conjunction witli the locking projection 2H3 when the selector switch is of the Z-pcsition type. In this connection it 10 will be understood that the provision of a full set of the five locking grooves on the rotary stem of the selector switch enable the same casing to be used either for selector switches of the 3-position type or for selector switches of the 2-position type.

The locking frame I84 is movable to its neutral or to either of its locking positions by a keyoperated mechanism. Thus as here shown a key lock 2I8 is mounted on the front of the cover 25 near one end of the latter, the casing 226 of said key lock being fastened in position by the nut 2222 (Figs. 3 and 5). A stationary guide 22 is fixed to the inner end of casing 220 for a lock bolt 225 actuator which is slidable in said guide and which is operated by the turning movement of the key-operated lock barrel 228. The latter has an eccentric projection or pin 23%? which en ages the member 226 in a groove slot 234i provided therein. When the lock barrel 228 is turned by the proper key in one direction, the locking frame is moved to a corresponding locking position and or" course when the lock barrel is turned by the key in the opposite direction the locking frame is moved to its other locking position. will be understood that in order to remove the key (not shown) from the lock 2IS it is necessary to turn the barrel 228 to one of said two positions in which said frame has a locking action on one or more of the push buttons and/or on the selector switch, as predetermined by the positions of the cross locking members of the locking frame. t will be noted that the slidable locking member 226 which is operated by the eccentric pin 230 of the lock barrel is secured to the cross connecting member I99 of the looking frame. Also it will be noted that said looking member 225 provides a lock for the cover 29 in one of the positions of said locking frame, namely in the lower position of said locking frame viewing Fig. 1 or in the left hand position of said locking frame viewing Fig. 7. This is illustrated in 5 wherein the locking member is shown in a locking position overlapping the inner end of bracket 25 which, therefore, prevents the removal of cover 26 since the lock casing 229 is l sted to said cover and is not removable except by access thereto at the inner side of the cover.

Thus, it is seen that the construction, organiza tion and arrangement of the several parts of the push button station are well adapted to the accomplishment of the several objects of the invention. It will be understood that a push button station may be provided ith all or" the auxiliary dev'ces hereinbefore reierre to or that all of such devices may not be required, or that only one or more of said devices may be provided in any one push button station. It is to be noted however that the construction and arrangement and the relation between the cover 223 of the enclosure of the push button station and the various switches and other elements auxiliary devices are such as to enable the latter to be used interchangeably for push button stations for satisfying various specific requirements. It is believed to be obvious, however, that if a push button station requires only one or two switches or other elements, enclosures of appropriate size, shorter than that illustrated in Fig. 1 would. ordinarily be provided. In actual practice the enclosures may be stocked in a range of from one to eight sizes with a corresponding variation in the number of openings provided in the covers respectively. However, the covers of different lengths do not vary in respect to the size of the openings therein, and accordingly allow the use of switches and other elements of the same construction and size in push button stations of different sizes. Also, as hereinbefore described, the switches and other elements can be applied to push button stations which as described with reference to Figs. 18 and 19 have cast metal covers. Finally it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific push button stations and devices herein disclosed, and that certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

The key lock disclosed herein is claimed in my divisional application Serial No. 117,596, filed September 22, 1949, which issued as Patent No. 2,579,168 on December 18, 1951. Certain of the features disclosed herein are claimed in my divisional application Serial Number 371,526 filed July 31, 1953.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Latters Patent, is:

1. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the cover, part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, said manually operable parts being provided, on their front exposed portions,

with designations of the functions of the companion switches, respectively, at least one of said manually operable parts being a push-button and at least one of said manually operable parts being operable by rotation, each of said manually operable parts being movable with the stem thereof to two difiercnt positions at right angles to each other with respect to the axis of said opening, whereby said designations may be disposed horizontally for correct reading both when said frame is mounted with said row of openings extending horizontally and when said frame is mounted with said row of openings extending vertically.

2. In a push-button station, a frame having a cover provided with a plurality of spaced openings disposed in a row, a plurality of switches carried by said frame and each provided with an operating stem disposed axially of one of said openings of the part carried by each stem and projecting through one of said openings for access at the front of said cover for manual operation of the companion switch, said manually operable parts being provided, on their front exposed portions, with designations of the functions of the companion switches, respectively, at least one of said manually operable parts being a push-button and at least one of said manually operable parts being operable by rotation, each of said manually operable parts being movable with the stem thereof to two different positions at right angles to each other with respect to the axis of said opening, whereby said designations may be disposed horizontally for correct reading both when said frame is mounted with said row of openings extending horizontally and when said frame is mounted with said row of openings extending vertically, each switch having a casing, and spring pressed means releasably engaging the stem and a manually operable cover, a manually operable the casing of the companion switch, respectively, for releasably holding the companion manually operable part of the switch in either of said positions.

3. In a push button station, as defined in claim 1, wherein the stem carrying said push button is non-circular in cross-section, a retaining disk having an opening complementary in shape to said latter stem which projects therethrough, said disk having a plurality of ribs equally spaced circumferentially thereof, the casing of the switch companion to said latter stem being provided with spaced grooves to receive said ribs, respectively, and spring pressed means releasably engaging said latter stem and said retaining disk for releasably holding said ribs in said grooves, respectively, in either of said positions.

4. In a push button station, as defined in claim 1, wherein the stem carrying the manually operable part which is operable by rotation is non,- circular in cross-section, a retaining disk having an opening complementary in shape to said latter stem which projects therethrough, said disk having a pair of projections diametrically thereof, the casing of said switch companion to said latter stem being provided with spaced portions to receive said projections, respectively, and spring pressed means releasably engaging said latter stem and said retaining disk for releasably holding said projections in said portions, respectively, in either of said positions.

5. In a push-button station, a switch provided with an operating stem, said stem being rotatable to two different positions at right angles to each other, a retaining disk having an opening through which said stem extends for axial movement relative to said disk, said opening and said stem being shaped to prevent relative rotation of said.- disk and said stem, said disk having a plurality of ribs equally spaced circumferentially thereof, a casing for said switch provided with spaced grooves to receive said ribs, respectively, and spring means releasably engaging said stem and said retaining disk for releasably holding said ribs in said grooves, respectively, in either of said positions of said stem.

6. In a push-button station, a switch provided with an operating stem, said stem being rotatable to two different positions at right angles to each other, a retaining disk having an opening through which said stem extends for axial movement relative to said disk, said opening and said stem being shaped to prevent relative rotation of said disk and said stem, said disk having a pair of projections diametrically thereof, a casing for said switch provided with spaced portions to receive said projections, respectively, and spring means releasably engaging said stem and said retaining disk for releasably holding said projections in said positions, respectively, in either of said positions.

7. A push button station comprising, a frame for supporting a plurality of switches, a cover for said frame, said cover having defined therein a row of spaced openings all of which are of the same diameter, and a plurality of switches mounted on said frame, said switches including a switch having a push button operating member and a switch having a rotary operating member, said push button member being mounted for movement axially thereof in one of said openings and projecting therefrom for access externally of said cover for manual operation, said push button member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said openings, a guard and guide ring for said push button member mounted in said one opening and filling the space between said inner and outer diameters, said rotary operating member projecting through another of said openings, and an actuating knob for said rotary operating member, said knob having freely engageable surfaces projecting outwardly of said cover for manual operation thereof, and said knob having a portion in rotary engagement with the inner diameter of said other opening and closing said other opening, and a pilot light cover provided with a mounting ring, said latter ring being mounted in a further one of said openings in engagement with the inner diameter thereof, whereby said cover is adapted to mount alternatively in each opening thereof a push button member, a rotary operating member or a pilot light cover.

8. A push button station comprising, a frame for supporting a plurality of switches, a cover for said frame, said cover having defined therein a row of spaced openings all of which are of the same diameter, and a plurality of switches mounted on said frame, said switches including a switch having a push button operating member and a switch having a rotary operating member, said push button member being mounted for movement axially thereof in one of said openings and projecting therefrom for access externally of said cover for manual operation, said push button member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said openings, a guard and guide ring for said push button member mounted in said one opening and filling the space between said inner and outer diameters, said rotary operating member projecting through another of said openings, and an actuating knob for said rotary operating member, said knob haiving freely engageable surfaces projecting outwardly of said cover for manual 14 operation thereof, and said knob having a portion in rotary engagement with the inner diameter of said other opening and closing said other opening, and an additional push button member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said openings, a guard and guide ring for said additional push button member mounted in a further one of said openings and filling the space between the inner and outer diameters of said additional push button and opening. and said additional button member having a head projecting from said additional ring and having a diameter greater than said additional ring, whereby said cover is adapted to mount alternatively in each opening thereof a rotary operating member, said first mentioned push button member or said additional member.

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